Surgical tissue collector device



June 1952 s. A. GLADSTONE SURGICAL TISSUE COLLECTOR DEVICE Filed Dec.29, 1948 INVEN TOR. J/Q/VEY ,4 62 .40570/1 5 ATm/P/VEVS Patented June24, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SURGICAL TISSUE COLLECTOR DEVICESidney A. Gladstone, Paterson, N. J.

Application December 29, 1948, Serial No. 67,860

4 Claims.

1 This invention is a surgical tissue collector device particularlyadapted for collecting tissue from a tumor.

A novel technique for obtaining tumor tissue specimens is disclosed andclaimed in a copending application bearing Serial No. 53,131 and filedby the present inventor on October 6, 1948,.

now Patent No. 2,591,927. Among other things this technique includesrubbing a sponge over the tumor to collect tissue from it. A primaryobject of the present invention is to provide an instrument particularlyadapted for manipulating the sponge and which is better adapted thanprior art devices for use in connection with the technique of theinvention of the copending application. However, in attaining thisobject an instrument has been developed which may be useful for otherpurposes.

The present invention involves a surgical tissue collector devicecomprising forceps having cooperating short and long jaws adapted togrip the sponge therebetween with its major sponge portion free on oneside and backed-up on its opposite side by the long jaw. This permitsgreater rubbing pressure to be applied to the sponge. The outer side ofthe short jaw is roughened and adapted to loosen tissue when rubbedthereover whereby to provide loosened tissue for absorption by thesponge. In a modified form of the device the jaw and handle portions arerelatively angular which is an arrangement that has been foundadvantageous under certain conditions. In a further modification thelong jaw is made tubular and provided with inlets to its interior withthese inlets arranged on its sponge-engaging side. This tubular jaw isprovided with an outlet to which suction may be applied whereby toenhance the liquid absorption ability of the sponge.

Such a device and modifications are illustrated by the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top view of the jaws with a broken line outliningthe portion of a sponge gripped thereby;

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the short jaw taken from the line 3-3 inFig. 2, this Fig. 3 being enlarged relative Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a ide view of the jaws as they appear when in angular relationwith the handle portions and thus represents a modification;

Fig. 5 is a perspective showing the further modification involving thesuction feature, and

Fig. 6 shows the long jaw of the device of Fig. 5 on an enlarged scaleto illustrate its construction in detail.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 3, the device may generally follow theconstruction of surgical forceps by comprising interpivoted handles Iand 2 having finger loops 3 and ratchet locking parts 4. The handles Iand 2 are interpivoted at 5 and extend beyond to the jaws. Thus far thedevice is similar to a surgical forceps.

Now diverging from the prior art the device has a short jaw 6 and a longjaw 1, the latter being in the form of a loop arranged in a planeparallel to the pivoting axis of the handles l and 2 and, therefore,transverse to its swinging direction. These short and long jaws areadapted to grip a sponge therebetween with its major sponge portion freeon one side and backed-up on its opposite side by the longjaw. Themanner of holding the sponge is illustrated by Fig. 4 showing themodified angular relation between the jaws and handles but operating inthe fashion of the device illustrated by Figs. 1 through 3. Preferablythe sponge engaging face of the long jaw 1 is roughened as shown at 8 soas to restrain relative movement between the sponge and the long jaw.The inner end of the sponge is tightly nipped or gripped between the twojaws. The shortness of the short jaw leaves a large amount of the spongeexposed. Therefore it is easy to use the device to rub the sponge on thetumor so as to realize the full effectiveness of the sponge. The longjaw backs-up the sponge so heavy rubbing force may be used if desired.

The roughness on the outer face of the short jaw 6 preferably comprisestransverse ridges 9 adjacent its outer end and longitudinally extendingridges l0 leading to the transverse ridges 9. The ridges 9 arepreferably interrupted transversely of the jaw so that they are in theform of sections and preferably a multiplicity of rows of the ridges 9are provided. The longitudinally extending ridges III are interruptedlongitudinally of the jaw and are also used in multiple rows. The jaw 6is shown as having a triangular shape so as to match the throat of theloop forming the long jaw 1. The longitudinally extending grooves ID arearranged in a fanned pattern so as to take full advantage of thetriangular shape.

In Fig. 4 the handles l and 2 are shown bent at an angle relative thejaws B and 1. This has an advantage where it is necessary to use thedevice through surgical devices making manipulation of the spongedifficult. The handles and 2 may be operated effectively at an anglerelative the sponge gripped by the jaws.

In Fig. 6 the handle 2a and the long jaw 1a, are made tubular, and theface of the jaw 1a that engages the sponge is formed with a series ofinlets l l. The finger loop of the handle 2a may be provided with anoutlet [2. The other parts may be made as already described. Theconstructions of the handle 2a and jaw Ta are such that there is acontinuous passage between the outlet l2 and the jaw la. This passage isfree from openings excepting for the inlets ll. Therefore suctionapplied to the outlet l2 tends to remove excess fluid with which thesponge may become absorbed and hence enhances the capacity of the spongeto collect tissue.

In using the device the sponge is clamped between the short and longjaws in the manner indicated by Figs. 2 and 4, the lock l being used tomaintain the jaws closed. The device maybe drawn toward the user withthe. longitudinal ridges l9 lacerating the tumor tissue and thetransverse ribs 9 tending to roll the tissue free. When the spongereaches the tissue there is considerable loose material thus providedfor it to pick up. The sponge collects the tissue on its surface whileabsorbing any liquids, the surface of the sponge functioning somewhat asa screen to revent, the tissue from penetrating too deeply. Whenthespnge becomes filled with liquid it loses its absorption properties. Ifthe modification shown by Figs. 5 and 6 is in use, suction may then be.applied to remove the liquids with which the sponge may have becomesaturated, thus permitting the penetration of; morev liquid into thesponge and; consequent collection of more tissue on the sponge surface.Suction may be used continuously if desired.

The roughened surface 6, on the face of the long jaw tends, to preventthe sponge from moving relative to the long jaw which is backing it up.Considerable pressure may be applied to the sponge toirub it on a tumorbecause, the long jaw '1 provides its backside, with rigid support.

I claim:

1., A. surgical tissue. collector device comprising forceps havingcooperating shortand long jaws adaptedto grip a sponge therebetweenwithits major sponge portion. free on one side and backed-up on itsopposite, side by the long jaw, the outer side of the short jaw having aplurality of projections thereon adapted to loosen tissue when rubbedthereover.

2. A surgical tissue collector device comprising forceps havingcooperating short and long jaws adapted to grip an end of a sponge toleave its major portion free on one side and backed-up on its oppositeside by the long jaw, the outer side of the short jaw having transverseridges adjacent its outer end and longitudinally extending ridgesleading to said transverse ridges, said long jaw being tubular andhaving inlets to its interior arranged on its sponge-engaging side andhaving a tubular handle communicating with its interior and providedwith an outlet for connection with a vacuum.

3. A surgical tissue collector device comprising forceps havingcooperating short and long jaws adapted to grip an end of a sponge toleave its major portion free on one side and backed-up on its oppositeside by the long jaw, the outer side of the short jaw having transverseridges adjacent its outer end and longitudinally extending ridgesleading to said transverse ridges.

4. A surgical tissue collector device comprising forceps havingcooperating short and long jaws adapted to grip an end of a sponge toleave its major portion free on one side and backed-up on its oppositeside by the long jaw, the long jaw being, tubular and having inlets toits interior arranged on its sponge-engaging side and having an outletto which suction may be applied.

SIDNEY A. GLADSTONE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

